Michelle Maheu is the assistant vice president of facilities management and planning at Wellesley, the first woman to serve in this role. She oversees all maintenance and construction projects with a focus on enhancing the campus experience in alignment with the College’s strategic plan. A licensed architect, Maheu joined Wellesley in 2009 as a project manager, bringing her expertise to the College’s growth and development. She and her team are currently managing significant renovations in the residence halls and major buildings across campus.
Philanthropy is essential to Wellesley’s ongoing campus renewal efforts. Major gifts enable the College to invest in transformative projects that enhance the student experience, preserve historic buildings, and incorporate sustainable design. This generous support helps shape the future of Wellesley and ensure its continued excellence for generations to come.
Michelle spoke with The Lamppost about her work at the College, her sustainability and preservation goals, and the importance of donor support for campus facilities.
Q: What is your professional background, and what led you to Wellesley?
With over 30 years of experience in the design and facilities industry, I’ve worked at architectural design firms focusing on college and health care buildings as well as on several college campuses, most recently Harvard. I truly enjoy working on a campus that features a variety of building types and architectural styles, and I find great meaning in the mission of education. What I particularly love about Wellesley is the community—it’s very relationship-based and collaborative. The best part of my job is working alongside an amazing team. I also appreciate the rich history and traditions of the College.
Q: What are some of the most exciting construction projects you’re currently overseeing?
We have had an unprecedented amount of construction work over the past few years, showcasing the College’s commitment to preserving and improving our wonderful buildings. Among the most exciting projects are the Clapp Library renovation and the brand-new Health and Counseling Center building. Both buildings are used by all students, making them essential to our core mission.
Q: What is the timeline for the various construction projects that are already underway?
The new Health and Counseling Center building is expected to open in March 2025. The Clapp Library renovation will be ready for students by the fall 2025 semester.
Another important goal is the continued improvement of our 13 residence halls. The College has embarked on a 10-plus-year plan to improve every hall. We will finish all the buildings on Tower Hill in 2026 (Severance, Tower Court, Claflin, and Lake House), and in 2027 we plan to start work at the Quint neighborhood (Beebe, Cazenove, Pomeroy, Shafer, and Munger) to continue the upgrades at those buildings. Then we’ll be moving to the East Side neighborhood (Bates, Freeman, McAfee, and Stone-Davis) to complete the renovations.
Q: What impact will these projects have on students and the campus once they are completed?
The Clapp Library renovation will transform the student experience by offering a more comfortable and energy-efficient space with increased seating and study areas. It will also introduce new program elements, such as a café and a larger, improved makerspace. The new Health and Counseling Center will be the College’s first prefabricated, mass-timber, all-electric building, incorporating the most sustainable technologies available and a cutting-edge design next to one of our oldest buildings, Simpson Cottage. This will provide state-of-the-art facilities and help meet the needs of students in terms of health and wellness services. Both projects will not only improve energy efficiency but will also make the campus environment more vibrant and student-focused.
The residence hall renovations will also result in more energy-efficient buildings, along with increased accessibility and upgraded common spaces, while preserving the architectural charm and historic details of these older buildings. We’re a few years into the residence hall upgrade program, and the transformation is wonderful!
Q: What is the effect of donor support on the planning and execution of large projects like these at Wellesley?
Donor support is crucial, and much of the work we do would not be possible without these generous contributions. Our planning process carefully outlines the needs and priorities of the campus buildings and infrastructure, which are substantial given the size of Wellesley. Donor support plays a key role in turning these plans into tangible building projects. In addition, these funds enable us to enhance our vision and expand programs beyond the core focus of deferred maintenance and systems upgrades. For example, a recent major donation made it possible for us to open up the ceiling in the Clapp Library, creating a grand staircase that beautifully connects the two levels at the heart of the space.
Q: How is Wellesley incorporating sustainability into these projects?
We are prioritizing several core values, including sustainability, accessibility, and historic preservation. Our sustainability efforts are focused on reducing greenhouse gas emissions, with a goal of achieving net-zero emissions by 2040. To accomplish this, we are working to eliminate the use of fossil fuels, such as natural gas and oil, and increase the energy efficiency of our buildings through upgrades to lighting, heating, and cooling systems. These improvements help reduce overall energy consumption. Additionally, we are looking into transforming our campus infrastructure by moving from steam heat (currently fed by natural gas) to more sustainable energy sources, such as geothermal. The Facilities Management team has been studying how to implement this technology on our large campus, which will be a critical project in the next five to 10 years.
For our residence halls, we are incorporating energy-efficient upgrades, such as adding insulation to interior perimeter walls and installing internal storm windows to make the buildings more thermally efficient and reduce heating loads.
Q: How do you balance the preservation of Wellesley’s historical architecture with the need for modern infrastructure?
This is a key consideration in our projects. Before renovating historic buildings, we often create a conservation management plan to help us understand the historic significance of each building and guide our approach to preservation. When making energy-efficient upgrades in older buildings, we take care to ensure the new technology complements the building’s original design. For instance, the added insulation and storm windows in the residence halls improve energy efficiency without altering the look or feel of the historic structures. In this way, we strive to modernize our campus while respecting and preserving its rich architectural history.